Rev. William Wallace of Failford, Minister of the Gospel at Failford

REVEREND MR. WILLIAM WALLACE OF FAILFORD

Minister of the Gospel at Failford

The Reverend Mr. William Wallace, commendator of Failford from 1576, was the brother of John Wallace of Craigie, and one of the suite of some 300 barons and gentlemen who accompanied James VI, King of Scots, on his voyage to Norway in 1589. The Cathcarts of Carleton and Killochan: 138. The Fast of the Church of Scotland confused him with the Reverend William Wallace, Minister of the Gospel at Symington, Fasti of the Church of Scotland III: 73 who is mentioned in Failford's last will and testament. The Book of Wallace: 123

Death

The Reverend Mr. William Wallace died in October 1616. The Book of Wallace

Marriage

Reverend Mr. William Wallace married Jonet Cathcart, daughter of John Cathcart of Carleton and his wife Helen Wallace. She was styled Lady Faill, and died " at the place of Faill " in May, 1630. Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae erroneously claims that she was the wife of Mr. William Wallace, Minister of Symington. The Cathcarts of Carleton and Killochan: 138

Children

1. William Wallace of Failford
2. Margaret Wallace
3. Agnes Wallace
4. Helen Wallace

The Second or Additional Testament Dative and Inventory of his Mother

Dame Margaret Cunningham died intestate in June 1573. On 31 May 1576 the additional testament dative and inventory of the deceased Dame Margaret Cunningham, sometime spouse of Andrew Stewart, Lord Ochiltree: "was faithfullie maid & givin up be Johne Wallace now of Craigie in name and behalf of Wm Robert Michael Alan [ Martha ] & Sara Wallaces hir lauchfull bairnis." Confirmation was granted to the executors dative on 5 June 1576. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, Dame Margaret Cunningham, sometime spouse to Andrew Lord Ochiltrie, reference CC8/8/4]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament
3. Image of Testament

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

29 August 1576: Certified copy of contract whereby William Cuninghame of Capringtoune and Annabel Cunighame, his daughter, assign to John Wallace of Cragy, a tack of umquhile Robert Cunighame, minister of Faillfurd, to William [Cunningham], of the teinds of the parish of Barneweill; William Wallace, minister of Faillfurd, with consent of his curators and the said John, his brother, binds himself not to bring any action of reduction of the infeftment by umquhile Robert Cunighame, minister of Faillfurd, of the said William Cuninghame in the lands of Brounhill and others in the said parish and bailiary of Kylestewart; and the said John Wallace binds himself to infeft the said William as heir to umquhile John Cunighame of Capringtoun, his father, in the lands of Drumschogill and others in the parish of Richardtoun. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Cuninghame Family of Caprington, reference GD149/41

                   2

3 April 1584: Charter of Sale by Robert Jollie, son and heir of the deceased Archibald Jollie, burgess of Ayr, in favour of Archibald Fergushill, burgess of Ayr (in terms of their Contract), of his 13s.4d. lands of Harperland; paying to William Wallace, minister of Failfurd, and his convent the feu-duty of 16s.8d., and 1d. blench to the granter and his heirs. Dated at Canongate, 3 Apr 1584; witnesses, John Chalmer of Troquhane, John Kennedy living in Edinburgh, Andrew Chalmer of Wrychthill, Gabriel Maxwell son of John Maxwell of Potterhill, and others. Fragment of granter's seal. National Records of Scotland, Harperland writs, Ayrshire, reference GD1/122/3

                  3

15 April 1584: Feu-charter by William, minister of Failfurd, and his convent, in favour of Archibald Fergushill, burgess of Ayr, of the merkland of Harperland lying within the liberty of the burgh of Ayr, bounded as above, which belonged to Robert Gelly, son and heir of the deceased Archibald Gelly burgess of Ayr, and was resigned by him for this infeftment. Feu-duty 16s.8d. Containing Precept of Sasine directed to John Osburn, burgess of Ayr. Dated at Ayr 15 Apr 1584; witnesses, Peter Cuningham, burgess of Ayr, John Hammiltoun of Barnweill, William Wallace of Brighous, and John Masoun, notary public. Seal complete and well impressed. National Records of Scotland, Harperland writs, Ayrshire, reference GD1/122/5

                   4

2 February 1586: Letter of reversion by William Wallace, Minister of Failford, and Janet Cathcart, his spouse, to Robert, Master of Boyd, for the redemption of the £5 land of Holmes of Kilmarnock. National Records of Scotland, Boyd Papers, Burgh of Kilmarnock, reference GD8/409

                   5

14 March 1598: Letters under the signet charging the son of the late Robert, Master of Boyd, and his curators to register a contract made between the late Master of Boyd and William Wallace, minister of Failford and Janet Cathcart his wife concerning infeftment of latter, in conjunct infeftment, in the lands of Holmis of Kilmarnock. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/2/15/9

                   6

23 August 1623: Contract of marriage between William Wallace, now of Failford and his mother Jonet Cathcart, widow of William Wallace of Failford on one part and Sir Thomas Boyd of Bollishaw and Agnes Boyd, his daughter, on the other part. At Kilmarnock. National Records of Scotland, Sir William Wallace of Craigie: Legal Documents, reference RH15/112/2/3

Genealogy

1. The Cathcarts of Carleton and Killochan. By Sir James Fergusson, Bart., Keeper of the Records of Scotland
2. History of the County of Ayr with a Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire by James Paterson, Vol. I. (John Dick, Ayr, MDCCCXLVII), pp. 304-05 for Cathcart of Carleton
3. Stirnet: Cathcart 03
4. The Book of Wallace
5. Fasti of the Church of Scotland. Volume III, page 73